Method and means for forming internal flanges on tubular bodies



July 28, 1931. c. BOYE 35 METHOD AND MEANS FOR FORMING INTERNAL FLANGES ON TUBULAR BODIES Filed Dec. 26, 1928. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR H '5 ATTORNEY C. BOYE July 28, 1931.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR FORMING INTERNAL FLANGES ON TUBULAR BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26 1928 INVENTOR HI ATTORNEY c. BOYE 1,816,357

METHOD AND MEANS FOR FORMING INTERNAL FLANG'ES ON TUBULAR BODIES July 28, 1931.

Filed Dec. 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR H ISATTORNEY July 28, 1931. c. BOYE 1,816,357

METHOD AND MEANS FOR FORMING INTERNAL FLANGES ON TUBULAR BODIES Fi led Dec, 26, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY u/f Z; 10

- INVENTOR Patented July 28, 1931 I UNITED A E PATENTOFFKB cimamis BOYE,

or WARREN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR. TO THE STEVENS METAL PR D CTS COMPANY, OF NILE's, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHI METHOD AND MEANS FOR IORMI NG'IFTTERNAL FLANGES N TUBULAR BODIES Application filed December 26, 1928. Serial No. 328,456.

7 My invention is an improvement in a method of and apparatus for'flanging tubular articles and relates more particularly to a method and apparatus for forming a nnooth internal annular flange on'one' or both ends of a tubular body. r v

Heretofore in forming flanges on tubular bodies, difficulty has been experienced in fol-min g smooth continuous flanges, andso far is 'I am aware, it has notbeen' possible heretofore to spin on such bodies smooth inwardly extending flanges which are free from irregularities'of contour. 'It is common prac tice, I believe, to form outwardly extending innular flanges on tubular bodies by rotating the body and bending, by means of a Hanging roller, a portion of the body against l the side of a roller engaging the outer surface of the body. According to such a methad, the flange so formed .is not free from irregularitles since the flange is not formed against a continuous or substantially continuous anvil.

It is one of the objects of my invention to form on one or both ends of a tubular body an internal flange free from irregularities-of contour.

Another object of my invention resides in a method and apparatus for forming an internal flange on a tubular body against a substantially continuous anvil face byspinning the material of the flangev toward and against the said continuous face. I Other objects and advantages of my infollowing description of several embodi-. ments thereof progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings inllke reference characters are emoloyed to designate like parts throughout which Jr the same.

In the drawings 7, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention and showing, I

vention will become more apparent as the Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevationof an apparatus embodying the preferred form of my invention; a I

Figure 41s a vertical section of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 but taken on a- 7 shown in elev'atlon; V V v I,

Figure 5 1s 'a fragmentary VIGW' of the line 1 -4 of F i 1 someof the parts being apparatus'shown in Figure 3, showing' the ]LWS in retracted position for receiving or releasing the work; J J

Figure (Sis a, plan view looking in the direction of line 66, Figure 3; 1 N Figure 7 is'a lan viewlooking in thedirection oflline Figure '5;

Figure *8 isva partia'l'section taken on line I 8-8 of Figure 9, illustratingalsecond 'em' bodiment' of my invention, the broken lines indicating the positions ofccertainl of the parts when the jawszare retracted;

Figure9 is a front. elevation of the apparatus, shown in Figure 8 with the handwheel removed; f

Figure 10 is a bottom pla v ba g} 7 in the direction of line 1,O1O, Figure 11;?

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view of the apparatus shown in Figure 8, showing the aws in retracted position for receivingor releaslng the work; J i

As illustrated inthe drawings-,vmy invena tion contemplates the use of achuck or other. work-holding means, the. work gripping portionsof which may be retracted .to receive or permit removalof the work therefrom:

It alsocontemplates the use of an-anvil; agalnst wh ch an. internal annular flange may be formed on the work. By such means one end of the work may be flanged and the work subsequently maybe removed from the chuck, reversed, and replaced on :the

' chuck for flanging the other end.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, which are illustrative of the preferred embodiment of my ;invention, the chuck body'is indicatedigenerally at 1. The chuck is-driven or rotated -;by

meansof the driv'ingpinion 2 keyed a a driven shaft 3. f This pinion meshes with the teeth of ,the annular rack 4 formed on the back of the chuck. Power is applied to the shaft 3 from a motor or the like (not shown) through suitable transmission means and a clutch (not shown) if desired. See Figure 8.

The clutch body includes a hollow cylindrical portion having a front plate 5 and a plurality of radially sliding jaws 6 slidable between adjacent guide 7 bolted to the chuck body as at 8. l 1

In this embodiment of my invention a rod 9 is rigidly supported in the face plate 5 of the chuck body 1. The rod is threaded along a portion of its length as at 10 for receiving the nut 11. A hand-wheel 12 is keyed to one end of the nut for turning the same on the threaded portion of the rod. The flanged end 13 of the nut is carried within the cap 14 and spaced therefrom by suitable packing or washers 15. A polygonal sleeve 16 is slidable on the rod 9 and is secured to the cap by means of the bolts 17. Plates 18 having ears 19 for pivotally receiving one end of the respective links 20 are bolted to the respective flat sides of the polygonal sleeve 16 and the positioning projections 21 of the plates register with the depressions formed in the respective flat sides of the sleeve. Certain of the connecting links 20 are pivotally attached at their outer ends to the respective radiallysliding jaws6. Each of the jaws slides along the chuck face plate 5 between the guide plates 7 In this embodiment of my invention vI have also provided means for forming a substantially continuous flat anvil face against which the flange on the work is formed. I have also provided means whereby'the'jaws and shoes carried thereby may be retracted radially of the chuck face without interference from adjacent jaws or The aws 6 carry shoes 22 which are fixed with respect to the respective jaws when the apparatus is in use, although these shoes may be removed for repair or substitution by shoes having an arc of another radius. Alternate jaws 23 slidable between guides 7 are provided with shoes 24 which are capable of relative movement with the re-' spective jaws by which they are carried. This is illustrated in detail in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7. The shoes 24 are normally seated against the respective alternate jaws23 but are capable of movement away from the jaws when the latter are retracted. Each of the jaws 23 is apertured at 25 to receive the spring 26 and the headed stem 27, a shoulder 28 extending into the aperture to provide a stop or abutment for one'end of the spring 26, and against which the spring may be compresse'd'when the shoe 24 is moved away from the jaw. I have provided means in this embodiment of my in vention for moving the shoes 24 outwardly and substantially parallel to the axis of the chuck body when the jaws are retracted. Such means is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and includes the inclined or beveled abutting walls 29 and 30 of the adjacent shoes. It will be seenthen, that as the alternate jaws 6 and 23 are retracted along the chuck face by turning the hand-wheel, the said jaws will approach each other as they move radially toward the axis of the chuck. During this movement of the j aws the inclined walls 30 of the shoes 24; will slide upwardly of the inclined walls of the shoes 22 compressing the springs 26 as shown in Figure 7. The shoes 24 will overlap the anvil faces 31 of the adjacent shoes 22 when the jaws are fully retracted. In Figure 6 I have illustrated the relative positions of the shoes 22 and 24; when the jaws are extended to receive and grip the work, and it will be noted that the anvil faces 31 and 32 of the respective shoes provide a flat, substantially continuous annular anvil against which the flange of the work is formed.

The operation of this embodiment of my invention is as follows- The operator first spins the hand-wheel 12 in a direction to cause the nut 11 and the sleeve 16 to travel along the threaded rod 9 away from the chuck face plate. In this manner the jaws 6 and 23 will be withdrawn or retracted radially along the chuck face and toward the axis of the chuck. The operator may now place the work W, preferably in the form of a tube, on the chuck, by sliding the same axially over the chuck as shown in Fig. 1. The hand-wheel 12 is rotated or spun in the reverse direction, causing the nut and sleeve to travel along the threaded rod 9 toward the chuck plate 5. The links 20 are thus moved about their respective pivots and force the jaws radially outwardly of the face plate 5 to engage and grip the work as shown in Fig. 4:. As the jaws move outwardly the compression of the springs 26 will be exerted to retract the shoes 24 toward the respective aws 23, permitting the inclined walls 29 and 30 of the adjacent shoes 22 and 2 1 to ride over one another until the movable shoes are seated 1 :75

against the jaws 23. Then these shoes are thus seated, their anvil faces 32 will be in the same plane as the anvil faces 31 of the shoes 22, forming a flat substantially continuous annular anvil against which tlic flange of the work is spun. This is c! vMy illustrated 1n Figs. 3 and 6. It will be noted that inclined 30 and 29 of L113 the adjacent shoes are in bstantially abutting relation when the jaws are extended to a similar flange may F of the work and form or spin it toward and against the alined anvil faces 31 and 32 of the respective shoes. Since the anvil faces are arranged in substantially abutting end to end relation and since the adjacent walls of the. shoes are disposed at an angle to the radii of the chuck, they constitute-a substantially continuous flat, annular anvil face-against which the flange'F is spun. In this manner an even, true-annular flange is formed extending inwardly toward the axis of the work, and which will be found to be free of irregularities of contour such as humps, or wavy portions. Y

1 When it is desired to flan'ge both ends 0 1;"

the work, the work may be released again by rotating the hand-wheel and retracing the jaws, and reversed on :the chuck, where byrepeating the operation above described be formed on the other end of the WOIk. v j i To release the work fromthe chuck, as in reversing it to form a similar flange on its other end, or to remove the work entirely, the operator rotates the hand-wheel 12 in the opposite direction retracting the nut 11 and thesleeve 16 to the right in Figure 4. Such movementwill, through the links 20, retract the jaws radially toward the chuck axis, causing the inclined surfaces ofthe shoes 24 to move outwardly along the inclined surfaces of-the shoes 22 and against the compression of the springs 26. In this manner the jaws may all be retracted toward the axis of the chuck alongtheir respective radii without interference: from the close fitting edges of the shoes, and for -a sufficient distance to permit removal of the work which-has been flanged on both ends.

In the second. embodiment of myinvention shown in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive, I have provided means for sliding certain of the jaws radially along the chuck face at greater speeds than certain other of the jaws, the purpose of which will be more fully .described hereinafter. cludes a rod-33 rotatably meujntedin. the plate. face 5 ofvthe chuck and secured against axial movement by the collars 34 and 35. The collar 35 is preferably formed on the rod 33, while the collar 34 is removable and is secured place'by the set-screw 36. The

This means inrod 33 is provided along a portion of its lengthwith threads'37 of relatively high pitch and is also provided along another portion ofitsllength with threads 38' of relatively low pitch. A hand-wheel "39 is keyed at 40 to the outer end of the rod for turning the same. 7 Nuts 41 and, 42 are and travel along the threaded portions 37 and 38 respectively of therod when the latter. is rotated; Pivotally connected to the nut 41 at one end are a plurality of links 43 having their respective other ends pivotally connected to respective alternate jaws 44 ofthe chuck, while a plurality of links 45 are pivotally connected at one end to thenut42 and at the other end to the alternate jaws 46. Thusit will be seen that by turning the hand-wheel in one direction the jaws 44 will be retracted'at a greater speed than the jaws 46, due to the difference in the pitches of the threads 37 and 38. I have illustrated the respective pitches of the threads 37 as being approximately! double the pitch of the threads 38, enabling the jaws 44 to be retracted twice as fast as the jaws 46'. This is clearlyillustrated in Figure 8 where I" have shown't he relative positions of the various parts in full lines indieating the aws in extended position for securely holding the-work and in dotted lines illustratin jythe g jaws in retracted for receiving or-releasing the work. 7 V

Each of the jawsiis. provided with a segmental face plate 47v of desirable material upon which the flange on the work is formed. Each face plate is provided with an anvil face 48 against which the-flange is formed as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1t Wlll be seen that when the aws are extended along the face of the chuck to engageand grip the work,-the anvil faces 48 of all the jaws will, form a substantially continuous-annular anvil. VVhen the jaws are re tracted, the anvil faces '48 of the jaws .44 will be offset circumferentially but in substantially the same radial plane with re spect to thefaces 48 of the jaws46, since in retracting all the jaws the former will be withdrawn approximately twice as far as the latter, as shown in Figure 11. .I have provided such means for retracting certain of the aws to a greater retracted position than certain others to permit free radial movement of the jaws 46 toward the axis of the'chuck and without interference froin'ithel clearance V jaws 44, and to providesufficient for removing the work.

It willalsobe noted from Figures 9 and. 11 that the ends of the anvil faces on the jaws 46 converge towardthe axis of the; chuck, while the endsv of the anvil faces on the jaws 44 converge awayfrom the axis ofthe chuck. 'It is to be understood, howpositionthreaded internally I ever, that I may reverse the convergence of the ends of the respective anvil faces on therespective jaws if desired without departing from the spirit of my invention or he scope of the claims. By means of the construction just described it will be noted that the adjacent end walls of adjacent anvil faces are maintained in substantially abut ting relation regardless of the position of the jaws in use, there being only suilicient space between the said adjacent end walls to permit clearance when i the jaws are moved relatively to one another.

In use, the invention, as illustrated in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive, operates as follows:

The operator first spins the hand-wheel 39 in a direction to retract the alternate series of jaws 44 and 46 toward the axis of the chuck 1. travel away from each other along the respective threaded portions 37 and 38 of the rod 33, as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 8. Since the threads 37 are of greater and opposite pitch to that of the threads 38, the nut 41 will travel a greater distance along the rod 33 than the nut 42 for a given number of revolutions of the hand-wheel. Consequently the jaws 44 connected through the links 43 to the nut 41 will be retracted for a greater distance than will the jaws 46, as indicated in the figure in dotted lines, and the abutting inclined edges of the adjacent shoes 47, when the jaws are extended,

- will gradually ride over one another as the jaws move inwardly to prevent interference with the radial movement of the jaws. The operator may now place the work on the chuck by sliding the same axially over the chuck as indicated in Figure 8. The handwheel 39 is spun in the reverse direction causing the nuts 41 and 42 to travel along the rod toward each other until the jaws 44 and 46 engage and securely grip the work W. lVhen the jaws are in this position it will be noted that the shoes 47 also grip the work presenting their anvil faces 48 in the form of a substantially continuous anvil, to that portion of the work which is to be formed into a flange.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 for the purpose of describing the operation of the invention shown in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, and assuming the work is in place on the chuck-tor flanging, the operator applies power from a suitable source,

including a transmission device and a clutch. if desired, and through the driven shaft and pinion to rotate the chuck. The operator now adjusts the flanging roller 49, which freely rotatable on its shaft, to engage the work. The roller carriage C may be adjusted in a-line parallel to the axis of the chuck along the guides G, while by turn ing the screw S by means of the crank K,

In so doing the nuts 41 and 42 the roller may be fed transversely of the work as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. As the chuck and work are rotated and the roller 49 is fed slowly to the right in Figure 2, it will engage the portion F of the work and form or spin it toward and against the anvil faces 48 of the shoes, Since the anvil faces are arranged in substantially abutting end to end relation, and since the adjacent walls of the shoes are disposed at an angle to the radii of the chuck, they constitute a substantially continuous flat annular anvil face against which the flange F is spun. In this manner an even, true annular flange is formed extending inwardly toward the axis of the work, and it will be found to be free of irregularities such as humps or wavy portions as are ei icountered in similar articles flanged in other ways.

hen it is desired to flange both ends of the work, the work may be released again and reversed on the chuck where by repeating the operation above described a similar flange may be formed on the other end of the work.

According to my invention, the method of forming an inwardly extending annular flange on a tubular body, may be described as follows: o

The work is placed on the chuck in the manner already described and is securely held thereon by adjusting the hand-wheel. Power is applied to rotate the'chuck and the work and the operator. feeds the flange forming roller toward the overhanging portion F of the tubular body IV. The nose of the roller presents a blunt rounded surface and engages the portion F at a point opposite the outer peripheral edges of the respective shoes. As the operator continues tofeed the carriage C transversely of the work axis, the nose of the roller will bend or spin the material of the portion F inwardly and against the flat substantially continuous annular anvil hereinbefore described in connection with the illustrated embodiments of my invention.

I11 carrying out this method of forming an annular, internal flange on a tubular body, I

prefer to spin the flange portion of the material of the said body from a point opposite the outer peripheral edges of the re spective shoes toward the peripheral outer edge of the tubular body, although it is to be understood that the flange may be formed by spinning the flange portion of the material from its outer peripheral edge toward the point opposite the outer peripheral edges of the shoes. 7 I By means of my invention an internal flange may be formed on each end of the tubular body by first forming an internal flange on one end and reversing thebody on the chuck and forming an internal flange flanges on tubular bodies, including a rotatable support for the tubular body, radially on the oppo'site end of the tubular body, and it is to be;understood thatthe method above described contemplates forming aninternal annular flange on one'or both ends of the tubular body. gVarious changes may be made in the de: tails of construction and arrangement of parts of my inventionwithout departing from the spiritofthe invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaimsry, I claim: 1.;The method of gformingv an internal flange ona tubular body, which consists in rotating'the body on a support and simultaneously spinning a portion of the body near one'of its peripheral edges against an anvil, and then retracting the anvil to remove the tubular body from the support.

2. The method of forming internal flanges on a tubular body, which consists in rotating the body on a support and simultaneously spinning a portion of the body near one of its peripheral edges against an anvil, and then retracting the anvil to remove the tubular body from the support, and then reversing the body on the support and similarly forming an internal flange on the other end of the tubular body. I

3. An apparatus for forming internal flanges on tubular bodles, including a rotatable support for thetubularrbody, radially movable jaws carried by the support for gripping the'tubular body, anvils carried by the jaws, said anvils underlying the portion'of' the tubular body to be formed into a flange, and a flange forming roller engageable with the said flange portion of the body for spinning the flange portion against the anvils.

4'. An apparatus for forming internal flanges on tubular bodies, including a rotatable support for the tubular body, radially movable jaws for gripping the body, anvils carried by the jaws and having a portion of the tubular body overlying thesaid anvils,

and a blunt-nosed flanging roller engageable with the said overlying portion of the tubular body to spin the same progressively toward and against the anvils.

5. An apparatus for forming internal flanges on tubular bodies, including a rotatable supportfor the tubular body, radially movable jaws for gripping the body, anvils carried by the aws, and arranged to provide a substantially continuous annular anvil face when 'thejaws are in position to grip the tubular body, and meansfor simultaneously moving said jaws to grip or release said tubular body.

6. An apparatus for forming internal movable jaws for grippingthe body, anvils carried by the jaws and having a portion of and "a flanging roller engageable 5 with the said overlying portion of the tubular body,

to spin the same? toward and against the anvils, said'anvils being retractible radially r body,- radially movable jaws for gripping Y the body on the support, an anvil against whichthe flange on the body is'formed, and

\ ablunt-nosed flanging roller engageable with a portion of the tubular bodyoverlyingthe anvil for spinning the said overyling por-' tion against the anvil. 1 r

8., An apparatus for; flanging a tubular body, including a rotatable support ;for the body, radiallymovable jaws for gripping the bodyon the support, a substantially con: tinuous anvil against which the flange-on the body is formed, and a flanging roller engageable with a portion, of the tubular body overlying the anvil for spinningjthe said overlying portionagainst the anvil, said anvilfcomprisfing a plurality of 'retractible I anvil segments 7; 9. An apparatus for flanging-a' tubular body, including a rotatablesupport for the body, radially'movable aws for grippingithe I I body on the support, an anvil against which the flange onthe body is formed and a flanging'rollerengageable with a portion of. the tubular body overlying the anvilfor spinning the said overlying portion [against the anvil, said anvil comprisinga pluralijty of anvil segments, some of which are more able relatively 'to the jaws in a plane sub stantially parallel to the; axis ofrthe rotat-f able support when the jaws are moved radi- 10.-'An,-apparatus for flanging tubular body, including a rotatable support for the body, radially movable jaws for gripping the body on the support, an anvil against which the flange on thebod'y is f0rmed,fand

ofthe tubularbody overlying the anvil'foir spinning the said overlying portion'against the anvil, said anvil "comprising 'a plurality of anvil segments movablewith'the respective. j aw s, to permit removal of the tubular bodyffr m; the support.

formed, and a,flanging -roller' engageable with a -{por tion of'the. tubular body ov r, lying'the anvil for spinningthe-said over} lying portionlag'ainst the anvil, [said anvil comprising a plurality of anvil segments; movable with the respective jaws to permit: removal of the tubular body'from'thefsupz port, certain ofjsaid anvil segments being a flanging roller engageable with a' portion 1 also relatively movable toward and away from certain of the respective aws.

12; Anapparatus for flanging a tubular Body, including a rotatable support for the body, radially movable jaws for gripping the body on the support, an anvil against which the flange 'on the body is formed, and a flangi'n'lg) roller engageable with a portionof the im 11 la'r body overlying the anvil for spin-' ning'th'e said overlying portion'against the anvil, said anvil comprising aplurality of anvil segments movable with the respective jaws topermit removal of the tubular body from the support, certain of said'anvil seg ments and jaws being movable as a unit at a greater speed than certain other of the segme ts and jaws.

13. Anapparatus for flanging a tubular body, including a rotatable support for the body, radially movable jaws for gripping an il segments at a greater speed than certain other of the segments and jaws,

14. An apparatus for Hanging a tubular body, including a rotatable chuck, means to rotate the chuck, jaws movable radially of the chuck to grip the tubular-body thereon, a 'segmentalfanvil against which the flange ion the body is formed, and a thug ingroller engageable with a portion of the tu ular body overlying the anvil for spinning, the said overlying portion againstthe anvil, said segmental anvil presenting a substa ntially continuous flat anvil face to the overlying portion of the body when the latter gripped by the jaws, the abutting walls of the adjacent segmentsbeing incli ped to permit certain, of the anvil segments to be moved out of the plane of certainother of the segments when it is dei "d to remove the tubular body from the chuck. j j j apparatus for flanging a tubular body, includin a rotatable chuck," means to rotate the e 'uek, jaws movable radially the chuckto grip the tubular body there on, a segmental anvil against which the flange ,on "thebody is formed, and a flanging roller engageable with a portion of the tu -ulai' body overlying the anvil for s innin the said overlying portion against the anvrl,"'saidsegmental anvil presenting a sub stantl'ally continuous flat anvil face to the 

